Violon Sacre uncorks powerful stretch run to take President's Cup

The former French turf runner Violon Sacre continued his string of strong efforts since coming to the United States earlier this season by drawing clear in the stretch to win Saturday’s $250,000 Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen Association President’s Cup at Parx Racing.

In 4 starts since coming to trainer Patrick Biancone’s barn, the 5-year-old Violon Sacre now has 2 wins and a neck loss. He previously won the Battlefield Stakes and was second in the Grade 3 Oceanport, both at Monmouth Park.

In the President’s Cup, Violon Sacre ($8) and jockey Pablo Fragoso saved ground off a slow pace of 52.48 seconds and 1:16.54 set by Sudden War. Rahy’s Attorney, Canada’s champion grass horse in 2008, made a move to grab the a one-length lead with a furlong remaining but once Fragoso found room between horses, Violon Sacre surged to the lead inside the sixteenth pole and was 1 1/2 lengths in front at the finish. The time for 1 1/8 miles on firm turf was 1:52.44.

War Hoot, the 3-1 second choice in a field of seven older horses, finished third, four lengths behind Rahy's Attorney and a neck in front of Pick Six, a 41-1 longshot. Just as Well, taking a class drop after facing Grade 1 stakes competition in six of his last nine starts, raced three wide and finished fifth as the 2-1 favorite.